Benghazi – The Libyan Center for Local Cultures organized a cultural symposium, Thursday, titled (Libyan Culture.. Diversity that Unites and an Identity that Gathers), as part of the activities of the Fourth International Book Fair held in the city of Benghazi. The symposium was moderated by Khaled Al-Tarjuman and attended by House of Representatives member Muhammad Douma, former Egyptian Ambassador Muhammad Al-Naqri, along with an elite group of academics, intellectuals, and researchers in cultural and social affairs.
The symposium discussed several important intellectual themes, most notably the cultural components in Libya and their role in unifying the nation, the relationship between culture and national identity, and the importance of culture in consolidating the values of citizenship and national reconciliation. It emphasized that cultural diversity constitutes a source of strength and richness for Libyan society, not a factor of division.
The Director of the Libyan Center for Local Cultures, Monther Al-Faqihi, explained to the Libyan News Agency that the symposium was organized as part of the Center’s commitment to highlighting the true role of culture in nation-building. He affirmed that Libyan culture, with its vast diversity, represents an integrated national fabric that expresses a unified identity despite its different components, and that it is the mirror reflecting the unifying spirit of Libya and the fundamental pillar for building a cohesive society governed by respect and understanding.
Al-Faqihi added that through these events, the Center seeks to establish the principle of “unity in diversity” as a comprehensive national concept that contributes to enhancing cultural awareness and consolidating the values of belonging and peace. He pointed out that culture represents a bridge of communication between different regions and social components, and an effective tool for achieving rapprochement and national reconciliation.
The symposium concluded with a future vision titled “A Comprehensive National Cultural Project,” which called for the development of a comprehensive national strategy that promotes cultural and societal integration, stemming from Libya’s rich cultural heritage as a foundation for a modern identity that accommodates everyone.
This symposium is part of a series of distinguished cultural activities taking place at the Fourth International Book Fair in Benghazi, reflecting the vitality of the Libyan cultural scene and its endeavor to entrench the values of dialogue, diversity, and national unity through culture and books.